Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

The amendment proposes to give an alleged victim of trafficking six months' temporary residence which may be renewable in the State. I do not propose to go into any detail on this issue at this time. It will be more appropriate for discussion when the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill comes before the House after Easter. I am sure Senator O'Reilly will have the opportunity to contribute on that important Bill. I have already referred to section 124 of that Bill, which provides for a no strings attached period of reflection and recovery of 45 days. It also provides for a further period of temporary residence of six months in certain circumstances which may be renewable. The person who decides whether a person is a suspected victim of trafficking is a Garda superintendent. There are other differences between section 124 and this amendment and they can be discussed when the Immigration Residence and Protection Bill comes before this House.

I take the opportunity to repeat an undertaking given by the Minister, Deputy Brian Lenihan, and me previously that in the period between the coming into operation of this Bill and the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, the provisions of section 124 will operate on an administrative basis. I hope that meets with Senator O'Reilly's concerns.